Sport and game simulation systems with user-specific guidance and training using dynamic playing surface

• US 9,821,220 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Golfstream INC.
• Original Assignee: Golfstream INC.
• Inventors: Gupta, Sameer M., Dummit, Darren W., Brenner, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US14/880,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20160158640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2067/025 with incorporated means acting on the track surface for varying its topography, e.g. slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3682 Visual means not attached to the body for aligning, positioning the trainee's head or for detecting head movement, e.g. by parallax
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3691 Golf courses; Golf practising terrains having a plurality of driving areas, fairways, greens special golf games, e.g. miniature golf, A63B67/02; mats for simulating golf greens A63B69/3661
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/245 visual
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/006 for locating or ranging of objects

Abstract

Disclosed herein are sport and game simulation systems, and methods of use thereof. One exemplary method is performed at an electronic device and includes: identifying a current topography of a putting green and a current position of a first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green. The method also includes: determining, based on the current topography, a best path from the current position of the first user'"'"'s ball to a target on the putting green. The method additionally includes: sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to render a representation of the best path on the putting green. In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a backswing distance and/or speed and a corresponding follow-through distance and/or speed that allows the first user to hit the ball along the best path and providing instructions to render the backswing and follow-through distances on the putting green.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors;

identifying a current topography of a putting green and a current position of a first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green;

determining, based on the current topography of the putting green, a best path from the current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green to a target on the putting green;

determining a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the ball along the best path; and

sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the best path on the putting green, (ii) render a first graphic at a first position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the ball, (iii) render a second graphic at a second position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the ball, and (iv) render an animation that appears between the first position and the second position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a path followed by the ball after the first user has putted the ball;

in accordance with a determination that the ball has come to rest on the putting green, comparing the path followed by the ball to the best path; and

providing feedback, to the first user, based on the comparing of the path followed by the ball to the best path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback includes auditory feedback instructing the first user how to improve their putting stroke in order to more closely follow the best path.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback includes visual feedback that provides a representation of the path followed by the ball relative to the best path.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving information identifying putting characteristics associated with a first user,

wherein the best path is determined further based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the current topography and the current position are determined based on information received from at least one visual sensor that is communicably coupled with the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the animation moves between the first position and the second position at a speed that is based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the animation is a representation of a putter that is shown swinging between the first and the second positions at the speed.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising, before retrieving the putting characteristics associated with the first user, determining that a second ball, distinct from the first user'"'"'s ball, is present on the putting green and is closer to the target than the first user'"'"'s ball.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that the first user'"'"'s ball has moved to a different position on the putting green, distinct from the current position;

in accordance with a determination the first user'"'"'s ball is now closer to the target than the second ball;

retrieving information identifying putting characteristics associated with a second user that is associated with the second ball;

identifying a current position of the second ball on the putting green;

determining, based on the putting characteristics associated with the second user and based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a new best path from the current position of the second ball on the putting green to the target on the putting green and (ii) a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the second user to hit the second ball along the new best path; and

sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the new best path on the putting green and (ii) render the first graphic at a third position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the second ball, and (iii) render the second graphic at a fourth position distinct from the third position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the second ball.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphic and the second graphic are the same.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphic and the second graphic intersect the representation of the best path at substantially right angles.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to;

retrieve information identifying putting characteristics associated with a first user;

identify a current topography of a putting green and a current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green;

determine, based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user and based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a best path from the current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green to a target on the putting green and (ii) a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the ball along the best path; and

send, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the best path on the putting green and (ii) render a first graphic at a first position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the golf ball, (iii) render a second graphic at a second position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the ball, and (iv) render an animation that appears between the first position and the second position.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the animation moves between the first position and the second position at a speed that is based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs further cause the electronic device to:

before retrieving the putting characteristics associated with the first user, determine that a second ball, distinct from the first user'"'"'s ball, is present on the putting green and is closer to the target than the first user'"'"'s ball.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs further cause the electronic device to:

receive an indication that the first user'"'"'s ball has moved to a different position on the putting green, distinct from the current position;

in accordance with a determination the first user'"'"'s ball is now closer to the target than the second ball;

retrieve information identifying putting characteristics associated with a second user that is associated with the second ball;

identify a current position of the second ball on the putting green;

determine, based on the putting characteristics associated with the second user and based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a new best path from the current position of the second ball on the putting green to the target on the putting green and (ii) a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the second ball along the new best path; and

send, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the new best path on the putting green and (ii) render the first graphic at a third position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the second ball, and (iii) render the second graphic at a fourth position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the second ball.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

retrieving information identifying putting characteristics associated with a first user;

identifying a current topography of a putting green and a current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green;

determining, based on the putting characteristics associated with the first user and based on the current topography of the putting green, (i) a best path from the current position of the first user'"'"'s ball on the putting green to a target on the putting green and (ii) a backswing distance and a corresponding follow-through distance that will allow the first user to hit the ball along the best path; and

sending, to a projecting device that is distinct from the electronic device, instructions to (i) render a representation of the best path on the putting green and (ii) render a first graphic at a first position on the putting green that corresponds to the backswing distance relative to the current position of the golf ball, (iii) render a second graphic at a second position distinct from the first position on the putting green that corresponds to the follow-through distance relative to the current position of the ball, and (iv) render an animation that appears between the first position and the second position.